The Malik Report

"Lash isn't in any trouble," coach Mike Babcock said before Saturday's preseason game against the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena.

"Lash trained like crazy," Babcock said. "Lash is smart. Lash does a good job penalty killing. Lash is what he is."...

"There's a spot on the team for everybody, and everyone just assumes that when a new guy comes he's taking over for one of the guys on the fourth line (or bottom defense pairing)," Babcock said. "No. You do what you do. We're looking for guys who can move the puck. So it isn't necessarily that they (defense prospects) are slotting in this role."

Babcock said the same applies to Jakub Kindl, meaning don't expect him to be replaced by a young defenseman.

"We're in the market for a top-four D," Babcock said. "We're dying to give it to somebody. There's lots of minutes for you."

It is almost Friday evening so instead of the usual I am changing it up a bit...

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

"I need the puck more. I can't be chasing it around the ice a lot. I have to have a quicker release and be ready to shoot the puck when I get it. I can't be afraid to shoot it. Sometimes you're always looking to pass; just shoot it on net and see what happens."

Forwards Tomas Nosek and Andrej Nestrasil were two of the Detroit Red Wings unknown commodities entering the preseason.

Nosek is new to North America after playing in the Czech Elite League the last three seasons while Nestrasil hadn't appeared in an NHL exhibition game during his first three pro seasons in the Red Wings' organization.

But the two Czechs took a step in the right direction Thursday night, getting a goal and an assist apiece in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.

"Nosek was really good, and Nestrasil is getting better," said coach Mike Babcock. "Those guys in particular were really good. (Nosek is) a man. He's smart, he's confident, he's a good player, he's got skill, he does good things. Big body, I really like him a lot.

"Nesty's a guy that struggled when he first started here and he's really got himself in shape and looks like he's going to be a player. Nosek is a player."

"We look forward to it," said captain Henrik Zetterberg, noting how the project will connect to everything that is in place currently. "It's pretty cool. The arena itself will be amazing, just everything surrounding it. Obviously we'll be excited to go.

"But at the same time, we'll miss this place."

Joe Louis Arena doesn't have the amenities newer arenas have. But it's a hockey only facility that has seen a tremendous amount of success from the Red Wings over the years.

"For us players, you just go out there and look up in the rafters and see all the history you have in here," Zetterberg said. "It's basically the only hockey, hockey arena we have left. Most of the new buildings, they're built for more than just hockey. This one basically, it's a hockey arena and when you come in here, you feel it and smell it.

About The Malik Report

The Malik Report is a destination for all things Red Wings-related. I offer biased, perhaps unprofessional-at-times and verbose coverage of my favorite team, their prospects and developmental affiliates. I've joined the Kukla's Korner family with five years of blogging under my belt, and I hope you'll find almost everything you need to follow your Red Wings at a place where all opinions are created equal and we're all friends, talking about hockey and the team we love to follow.